Students pack shoeboxes for children in Turkey

PITTSFORD — The gifts were as simple as clean socks, bars of soap, crayons, coloring books and other small trinkets. But what those gifts represented was much more.

As fourth- and fifth-graders packed those items into shoeboxes Friday afternoon at Pittsford Elementary School, they knew they were working to make a child’s Christmas a little brighter. The nine boxes will be sent to children in Turkey, part of Operation Christmas Child’s efforts to bring a brighter Christmas to children in third world countries. “Nine children in Turkey will have a Christmas they wouldn’t have had thanks to you,” said fifth grade teacher David Roberts. “They will be joyful and happy. It will bring a smile to their faces.” Roberts got his students involved several years ago after a trip to Turkey with his church. “I asked myself how can I help further the program and help the kids I met,” he said. Since starting the project with the students in his third grade class as a class project it has continued to grow, sending more packages each year. Roberts is hoping to get the entire school involved in collecting donations for Operation Christmas Child at some point. “Our goal this year was 15 boxes, we got to nine,” Roberts said. Several of the students said it made them feel good to know they were giving a Christmas to children who wouldn’t have one otherwise. “It makes me feel good about myself because I am giving someone who doesn’t have something to play with something,” said Caiden Harrington, a fifth-grader. Roberts told the students to remember they are doing something wonderful for someone. “It will put a smile on their face,” said fifth-grader Ethan Spahr. Before sealing the boxes each student also made a colorful card for each of the boxes filled with messages of encouragement and cheer. Roberts said the boxes are filled with items that the children in Turkey don’t have — things students at Pittsford may take for granted. “It may not be much to you, but it will mean a lot to them,” said Roberts.